Breton Literature - Breton Poetry

Breton Poetry

The main principle of Breton poetry is that the next to last syllable in a line should rhyme with one or more other syllables in the same line. For example in the first line above, "en" is the second to last syllable, which rhymes with "guen" and "heguen". In the second line, "at" is the second to last syllable which rhymes with "hegarat".

There are several texts from the 15th and 16th century:

  • Destruction of Jerusalem, fragments.
  • Life of Saint Guénolé, fragments.
  • Dialogue Between Arthur and Guynglaff, a very badly damaged 247-line poem passed down through multiple generations of copies.
  • Life of Saint Nonn and Her Son Devy
  • Buhez Sante Barba ("The Life of Saint Barbara"), a mystery play on the life and miracles of Saint Barbara.

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